Apparatus for treating fruit



Sept. 5, 1933. E. M. BROGDEN 1,925,992

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FRUIT Filed Feb. 1950 gwmntoz Patented Sept. 5,1933 rest orri APPARATUS FDR TREATING FRUIT Ernest M. Brogden, Pomona,Calif., assigncr to Brogdex Gompany, Winter Haven, Fla, a corporation ofFlorida Application February 1, 1330. Serial No. 25,230

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for treating fruit; and itrelates more particularly to apparatus for rubbing or brushing freshfruit preparatory to marketing the same.

The invention is especially useful in treating fresh fruit such asoranges, lemons, grapefruit, apples and the like, but other fruits andalso vegetables may be treated as well and therefore the term fruit asused herein is to be understood as including not only fruit proper butalso vegetables and the like.

Broadly speaking, the novel apparatus em bodying this inventioncomprises means for brushing or rubbing the surface of the fruit, andmeans associated therewith for causing irregular movements of the fruitupon varying axes as it goes through the apparatus to ensure uniformityand thoroughness of the brushing eiiect.

An object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive device of thecharacter described which may be associated with standard rubbing orbrushing apparatus without requiring any or much change in saidapparatus and which is simple and sturdy in construction.

Other objects and novel features and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing which illustrates one practical form ofapparatus embodying the invention, it being understood that thedescription of this specific embodiment is merely illustrative and notrestrictive.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary end view, in section, of rubbing or brushingapparatus embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View in side elevation taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view, in section, taken on theline 3 3 of Fig. 2.

The invention is adapted for use with any rubbing or brushing apparatus,of which there are several types in common use today, in which one ofthe rubbing or brushing elements is a revolving brush along which thefruit is fed in its travel through the apparatua'but, for convenience,it has been illustrated and described herein as associated with arubbing or brushing unit of the type illustrated in Brogden Patent No.1,- 671,924 comprising parallel rotary brush rolls cooperating with anendless brush conveyor device, which travels longitudinallytherebetween, to form runways for supporting fruit.

Referring to the drawing, and 11 indicate two cylindrical brush rolls ofa rubbing or brush- (Cl. IVE-$62) ing unit of the type just referred to.These brush rolls are spaced apart as shown and are suitably journaledat their ends in a supporting framework (not shown) for rotation abouttheir longitudinal axes, the rolls being suitably driven in oppositedirections by any suitable means, not shown. Disposed in the spacebetween the brush rolls l0 and 11 is an endless brush and conveyormechanism adapted, during its upper run or pass, to travellongitudinally of and between the brush rolls l0 and 11 and to cooperatetherewith in properly rubbing the fruit while at the same time advancingit toward the delivery end of the unit. This endless brush and conveyormechanism comprises an endless chain 12 running over two sprockets, (notshown),'one at each end of the unit, said chain carrying brush blocksindicated generally at 13, which blocks are individually secured to theconveyor chain in any suitable manner. As shown in Fig. 1, said blocks13 are of generally triangular or inverted V-shaped cross section andeach is secured to the conveyor chain 12 on one side or base, the othertwo sides or inclined lateral faces being provided with a surfacing ofbrush bristles as indicated at 14. In its upper run, the endless chainbrush mechanism slides upon a stationary supporting strip or board 15which is centrally grooved to receive and guide the conveyor chain 12 towhich the brush blocks 13 are secured, each of said brush blocks beingsimilarly grooved or recessed on the side fastened to said chain, asshown. It is apparent that the upper run of the endless brush and vconveyor mechanism cooperates with the aforesaid cylindrical brush rolls10 and 11 to provide two trough-shaped runways for fruit, such fruitbeing indicated by F. The arrangement of the parts is such that fruitcannot fall down through the machine, but is supported in the properposition by the cooperating brush surfaces, as illustrated. The endlessbrush block mechanism is driven in such manner that the upper passtravels toward the discharge end of the machine as indicated by thearrow in Fig. 2. In order to advance the fruit positively toward thedischarge end of the machine, the endless brush block mechanism isprovided at suitable intervals with pushers 16, each of which may besecured to one end of a brush block 13 in the space between it and thenext block in the series, said pusher projecting into the fruit runwaysfrom the opposite inclined faces of the block. These pushers are adaptedto engage the fruit as the brush block mechanism advances, thuspositively feeding the fruit through the machine.

its movement suificiently to compel a change in its suitable means tothe runways formed by the cylindrical brush rolls and'the brush blocks,where it is subjected to the rubbing action of one of the rotarycylindrical brush rolls on the one hand and of the rectilinearlyadvancing brush blocks 13 on the other. If desired, the brushingapparatus may be provided with any suitable 'means for applying a.washing or treating liquid or solution and/or a liquid protectivematerial to the fruit as it passes along said runways.

The rotating brush rolls tend to spin or rotatethe fruit, principally ona single axis, so that if the axes upon which this spinning takes placeare not constantly changed, all portions of the surface of the fruitwill not be thoroughly brushed. Accordingly, means have been providedfor causing the fruit to turn irregularly on frequently changing axes asit goes through the machine. In the example illustrated these meanscomprise pivoted fruit-retarding members or .turn-over devices,indicated generally by 1'7, arranged at intervals to project upwardlyinto the path of the fruit as it passes along in the runways, theseprojections or devices serving to retard or arrest the fruit temporarilyand compel a change in the axis of rotation. These fruit-retardingdevices. each comprise a rod or arm 18 secured intermediate its ends toone end of a stub shaft or pivot pin 19 rotatably mounted in the bearingor'journal box 20 provided with a flanged portion'2l secured by screwsor the like to the edge or side of chain-supporting strip or board 15;As shown in Fig, 1, board 15 is provided with a recess or socket 22leading in from the edge to receive the body portion of bearing 20. Asshown in Fig.

3, arm 18 passes through a hole 23 provided in one end of shaft 19 andis held in place by a pin 24, this arrangement cooperating with a pin 25in the other end of shaft 19 to hold said shaft in bearing 20. As shownin Figs. 1 and 2, one end of the arm or rod 18 is provided with one ormore weights 26 removably held in place by a nut or similar fasteningmeans 27, the efiect of this being to yieldingly hold the arm 18 in asubstantially vertical position so that it projects upwardly into thepathof travel of the fruitin each of the runways, the curved end 28engaging the lower or bottom portions ofthe fruit to arrest or retardaxis of rotation. The retarding devices are so adjusted that they willyield to comparatively light pressure and thus avoidinjury to the fruitandobviate pushing of the fruit out of the runways; and the upper ends28 of the arms 18 are curved in the direction of travel of the fruit andprovided with a smooth flat surface to cooperate in avoiding suchinjury. As shown in Fig. 1, the retarding devices are so mounted, in thespaces between the brush rolls and the brush block conveyor, thatordinarily they do not come into contact with the pusher 'members 16,but even if such contact should take place, no harm will be done as theretarding devices will readily yield to allow the pusher members topass.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the fruit-retarding deviceembodying this invention is simple in construction and readily installedand that, being made entirely of metal, Without any' springs or otherparts which might get out of adjustment, it will operate for longperiods of time without requiring repair or adjustment.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exactarrangements shown and described and-that various modifications can r 1.Apparatus for treating fruit comprising the combination, with rubbingmeans providing a runway for fruit, of a pivoted fruit-retarding deviceprovided with a depending weighted portion adapted to cause said deviceto normally project upwardly intothe path of travel of fruit in saidrunway and to engage the lower portions of said fruit.

2. Apparatus for treating'fruit comprising the combination, with rubbingmeans providing a runway for fruit, of a device arranger to retardmovement of fruit in said runway, said device comprising a pivoted armhaving one end curved and the other end weighted so as to yieldinglyhold the curved end in the path or" the fruit, said other end engagingthelower portions 01 said fruit.

3. Apparatus fortreating fruit comprising the combination, with rubbingmeans providing a runway for fruit, or" a fruit-retarding device, said,end of said arm being weighted so as to yieldingly holdthe other end inthe path of fruit in 'said runway, said other end engaging the lowerportions'of said fruit.

- ERNEST M. BROGDEN.

